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Questions
to Ask LAS Vendors
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General
Questions
- What similar (public libraries,
academic libraries, special libraries) are currently using your
LAS??
Basic Hardware and
Software Features
- Can you LAS run on our existing
computer hardware?
- If not, what hardware does it run
on?
- What operating system does it run
on?
- What is typical hardware and
software you would suggest for the server, considering our
capacity and functional requirements?
- What hardware and software do you
suggest for technical services operations?
- What hardware and software do you
suggest for patron services, including circulation and reference
operations?
- What hardware and software do you
suggest for patron terminals?
- What modules are included in the
basic LAS package?
- Describe the modules
- What modules are optional, and
what are the additional costs.?
Questions about
the interface
- What kind of interface is offered
for patrons, circulation, technical services, and reference
applications.
- Is it Windows-, Mac-, browser-,
or text-based, or proprietary?
- Is the interface interaction
mouse- or keyboard-driven?
- Is the interface command-line? or
menu-driven?
Questions about
loading data into and exporting data from the LAS
- How is data coverted and loaded
into the LAS?
- Do you covert or do we have to
have a third party do it?
- Do you load the data, or do we do
it?
- How is data output from the LAS?
I
- Is the output data format
proprietary or does it conform to standards?
Example questions
about specific features
- Authority
control: Does it support the use of multiple authority
files?
- Authority
control: Can global changes be made in real time?
- Cataloging: Can global changes be
made to specific fields, headings, or other record attributes in
real time?
- Administration: What are the
range and variety of standard reports that can be generated? Can
new, custom reports be easily created?
- Patron, circulation, technical
services, and reference-initiated functions: How do they operate,
including steps for each operation, and what are the flows between
functions?
- Security: Do you offer multilevel
password control, and can it be specified by terminal, individual,
operation?
- Access control: How is access to
the different types of records (patron, financial, systems,
security, etc.) controlled?
- Internet/Web cataloging: Does the
856 field provide direct access to external Internet sites?
- Multimedia support: Does LAS
handle (display, search headings for) visual and audio
media?
- Archival functions: Can the
various types of information handled by the LAS be archived, and,
if so, how is the information stored and accessed?
- Can your system handle non-Roman
scripts, and, if so, which ones?
Maintenance,
Upgrades, and Support
- What is the usual schedule for
upgrades and new versions?
- How to we request those upgrades
and versions to be implemented?
- Is there a standard maintenance
schedule that we can expect?
- Is support available around the
clock, 365 days a year?
- Is there toll-free numbers,
E-mail support, fax-based support?
- Is there a user group?
- Is there a news group or E-mail
listserve?
Costs
- What is the annual maintenance
fee, and what is provided under it?
- Specifically, are upgrades
included in the annual maintenance charge?
- What is the cost of moving to
your system? In dollars? In our staff time? In training of our
staff and reeducating our patrons?
- Describe your experience in
migrating a new customer from an existing system to your system.
What have been the chief obstacles? Address specifically fiscal
records, vendor files, outstanding orders, circulation records
(not forgetting overdue materials, fines, holds, recalls), ILL
transactions, serials holdings and claims. What timetables have
been most effective or most troublesome and why? How long do you
think it is necessary to run dual systems. What help are you
prepared to offer to facilitate migration?
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